Daily musings for leveling up the self

Tarot

I cannot beat myself up for the lack of writing. I can only admit to myself that consistent writing takes time, practice, and planning. I’ve not allotted those key aspects in my growth, so here go my typing fingers to take a step in that direction.

I’ve been listening to a customized Japanese pop and rock song list to practice for karaoke in Seattle at The Rockbox with friends, as well as getting my ear familiar with the song style. So far it works halfway – I actually learn the song best by writing it down. This is due to simply not knowing the kanji meanings (not all the songs will have furigana for singing along). I’ve also come to accept my range is significantly lower than what’s in my head. I can sing L’arc~en~ciel without hiccup, but Utada Hikaru will never be in my range (most of her songs have a wide range used, and I’m not as much as an alto as I used to be). This is something I’m doing for myself. Music drives much of my mood when I’m not reading or doing work. English song lyrics are so pretentious that I cannot listen for too long. Its really just another way for me to study Japanese.

Tarot classes have been sporadic, at best. The higher up the level, the more infrequent they are while the teacher focuses on the core lower level classes (most people take the basic course). I’ve been working on the weekend courses focusing on a specific Major Arcana card, but I also picked up a copy of The Spoken Cabala: Tarot Explorations of the One Self for another perspective. If you’re looking for an advanced level companion for self study, I highly recommend it -do take it one card at a time, as the author goes into great depth behind each card.

Adventures in tea have been dwindling. Currently, I am drinking genmaicha due to the common cold I got from my trip to LA (from 100 degree weather to 60 degrees in Seattle within a day? Yeah, you’d catch a cold too). While in Hollywood, I stopped by The Chado Tea Room, thinking I’d just pick up a tea to go. It does full service tea, tea time, and loose leaf tea sales. As soon as I acquire my own lodgings, I see myself obtaining several custom teas from their establishment. I enjoyed the experience, food, and tea.

I’ve done a few #inktober drawings on my Instagram, missing a few days (such as the last 3). But that’s ok. Life happens. Again, time and commitment. I need my sleep when I’m not well.

Today was spent looking at a couple of apartments within the complex my friend lives at, and while I love the facility and amenities it provides as a luxury complex, I think I’m going to hold back this time around. One of the big reasons is the studio is too small for my needs. I want to be able to work from home, but then go to bed in a space separate from where I work. While currently living at my parents’ home, as much as I want to work from here (I’d have to see if I can acquire FiOs for a steady connection as a call center telecommuter), it’d still violate that rule. Granted, another factor IS money – I just have too much outstanding debts in terms of my student loans. As soon as my credit cards are zero-balanced, all my funds will go to paying off my college debt so I can move forward with my life. I shouldn’t have to owe anything to anyone but myself, so I want that pendulum currently swinging over my head to be gone. GONE.

I attended Geek Girl Con for the first time this weekend. I went to panels, shopped local vendors, and picked up books from the recommended reading list (#GGCLit – http://ggclibrarians.weebly.com) at B&N (because proceeds of the profits will actually go back to Geek Girl Con!), and met many happy friends both volunteering for the con and attending like myself. It was a very exciting yet low-key event, with amazing cosplayers and acceptance of all those present. For someone like me, it wasn’t overwhelming but definitely something I could see myself taking my younger cousins (boys and girls) to -unless I end up being an Agent volunteer. We shall see!

And on that note, I think I will wrap it up. The high energy music begs me to finish laundry, vacuum, and do a Tarot reading to end the night.

In a world where we strive to stand out, we seem to do the same thing in order to reach that level. It almost seems like a well-orchestrated facade of Simon Says, only this team social media is Simon and we keep saying the same thing.

Its the gems, those diamond in the roughs, that make all the difference. It won’t be a mass social media trend that makes them unique. Rather, they will only be beacons of light to the tribes that are under the same philosophies and ideals. They won’t be on distractify.com or BuzzFeed. They will be important and not just there to count your clicks to get pennies for the day.

My recent beacons of light in my life are as follows:

TheMinimalists.com: It’s such a great simple site. The co-authors are lovely human beings. They aren’t out to stuff your throat with ideals that don’t pertain to you. They write from the heart, from experience, and genuinely care about what value they are adding to your life. I enjoy their thoughts so much that they are both a homepage AND I’ve subscribed if I’m not on my main computer.

Tarot class: I’m currently working in level 2 of studies at Seattle Tarot School run by Seven Star (yes, that is her legal name and no, its not because of hippie parents). I’ve been attending her casual practice meet-ups via www.meetup.com (link will take you to the Tarot group) for around two years now and level 1 was last fall. She’s got an amazing perspective and open-minded attitude. You can read my personal reviews about her classes on Facebook and Yelp.